Senior Hamas Official Arrested in Samaria

MP Mahmud al-Ramahi was detained and his car impounded at a military roadblock in Samaria.

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Gil Ronen, 27/10/12 19:32

Video of arrest of Hamas members at Red Cros

Israel news screenshot

Israeli security forces on Saturday arrested senior Hamas MP Mahmud al-Ramahi at a military roadblock in Samaria (Shomron), an army spokeswoman told AFP.

"He was arrested on suspicion of illegal activity" at Hawara checkpoint, south of Shechem, and taken for questioning, she said.

Arabs in al-Ramahi's home town of Ramallah said he was detained and his car impounded as he attempted to drive through the checkpoint.

Ramahi, formerly secretary general of the Palestinian Legislative Council, the Palestinian parliament, has served several stints in Israeli jail. In November 2010 he was arrested for what the army described as "being involved in recent Hamas activities."

In 2006 he was arrested in a roundup of dozens of Hamas lawmakers, ministers and other officials after Gaza terrorists seized Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. He was held for seven months before being released.